Turkish howitzers hit terror targets in Ras al-Ayn

SANLIURFA, Turkey/TAL ABYAD, Syria

Turkish army hits terror targets with howitzers in the rural area of Ras al-Ayn district in northern Syria, as part of the ongoing counterterrorism operation in the region.

Turkey’s ongoing Operation Peace Spring against YPG/PKK terrorists continued in the district’s rural area located near the Turkish border.

Within the scope of operation, Turkish army and Syrian National Army (SNA) continue to move towards Tal Abyad’s southern and western parts.

The YPG/PKK terrorist group's human rights violation in northern Syria forced at least 50,000 people to flee the Tal Abyad district and its surrounding villages since mid-2015.

Local people continue to return to Tal Abyad

Local people of Tal Abyad have continued to return to their hometown that was cleared of terrorists by Turkish army and SNA.

The cleared areas have been searched by the security forces for civilians’ safety.

A total of 673 YPG/PKK terrorists have been “neutralized” since the launch of Turkey's ongoing anti-terror operation in northern Syria, the National Defense Ministry said Thursday.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

Turkey’s anti-terror operation in northern Syria has liberated two districts, one town and tens of villages from YPG/PKK terrorists in the first seven days.

On Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a total of 1,220 square kilometers have been cleared of terrorist groups in Syria's north.

Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ankara wants to clear northern Syria east of the Euphrates River of the terrorist PKK and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

*Writing by Davut Demircan